All for analytics: A virtual met mast and wind data platform combine

With the aim of bolstering project performance through data intelligence, a wind-predictive virtual met mast is integrating with a data and analytics platform to enhance micro-scale wind data capabilities for clean energy project developers.

Norway-based TGS, a global energy data and intelligence provider, announced the strategic collaboration with Belgium-based 3E, an SaaS company, to integrate the Virtual Met Mast time-series data into Wind AXIOM, improving micro-scale wind data capabilities.

According to the partners, the collaboration will see Wind AXIOM become the first platform to offer micro-scale wind data time-series with 30mx30m spatial resolution and 10-minute time granularity, spanning up to 30 years.

The collaboration is hoped to minimise uncertainty in Annual Energy Production (AEP) and reduce risks in engineering tolerances.

“We are thrilled to partner with 3E to bring this innovative technology to our Wind AXIOM platform to enhance further the wind development insights,” said Jan Schoolmeesters, EVP of digital energy solutions at TGS.

“This collaboration is an important step forward in our ongoing commitment to providing the offshore wind industry with the most advanced energy data and intelligence solutions. VMM will enable more accurate simulations leading to enhanced decision-making for more efficient and cost-effective wind energy production.”

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VMM x Wind AXIOM

Virtual Met Mast (VMM) is a meteorological mast that predicts wind resources using long-term micro-scale time series data of wind and meteorological parameters.

The platform aims to support turbine suitability assessments, extreme wind analysis, long-term extrapolation with observation data, and load modelling using wind speed, direction, shear, veer, turbulence intensity and stability data.

The enhanced platform, according to the partners, will enable users to compare VMM’s high-resolution outputs with Wind AXIOM’s Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model outputs and observation data in real time.

“Partnering with TGS is a big step towards helping wind energy developers succeed. By leveraging the innovative technology of Virtual Met Mast in TGS Wind AXIOM, we are enabling developers to analyse a greater number of sites, minimise missed opportunities and optimise projections with unprecedented speed and accuracy,” said Stef Goossens, CEO at 3E.

VMM was recently used to assess wind resources in the lease area of Sorlige Nordsjo II (2×1.5GW) and it demonstrated a higher wind speed difference than NWP models.

According to 3E, this result is particularly valuable in an auction context where direct measurements are not available, as bidders can leverage VMM’s integration into Wind AXIOM to improve their design and project proposals.